The Fall of the West Roman Empire, by Mark Laanen. 
Email: laanen@xs4all.nl

HISTORICAL PICTURE

This scenario is set in the fifth century AD. The Roman Empire is split in a western and eastern part, now called the West Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. The weakened military state of the Romans has encouraged barbaric tribes from the north to settle or conquer areas in the Roman Empires. At the beginning of this scenario the (West) Romans have already last a lot of land to the barbarians. Hispania (Spain) is in the hands of the Sueves and Vandals. Tribes from Denmark raid the coast of Britannia (England), Aquetania (southeast France) is controlled by the Visigoths, and central European tribes like the Francs and Burgundiones have crossed the Rhine to settle in Roman territory. But the worst threat comes from the east. A new barbaric tribe coming from the Asian plains has terrified the other barbaric tribes. These mounted devils as they were called have already conquered the Ostragoths and have set other tribes on the run. The Roman world is at the verge of destruction.

TRIBES

The West Romans. They are ruled by the incompetent emperor 
Valentianus III. They are under attack from all sides and only Italy is sufficiently defended.
The Byznatines. The eastern empire under Theodosius II isn't much 
better then their western counterparts. But they have the 
advantage that must of the barbarians concentrate their attacks 
on the West.
The Anglo-Saxons. In reality these were a lot of independent tribes 
with one similarity: They all attacked Roman cities in Britain. The tribes represented in this civilization are the Frisians, Angles, Saxons and Jutes. They live in Denmark and northern Germany (Germania Superior) and Holland (Germania Inferior). Their leader is Hengist which is a character from British legends. In these legends Hengist was the chief of an Anglo-Saxon tribe who betrayed one of the British rulers by 
attacking them despite of a treaty.
The Huns. They are the protagonists of the scenario and are almost 
always at war with everyone. At the start of this game they already control the north of the Black Sea, and Dacia (Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania). They start under the rule of Rugila, but Attila will appear later in the game to. In reality the Huns conquered most of Europe, but they vanished as quickly as they came and their influence was limited.
The Francs. They represent the Mid-European tribes who crossed the 
Rhine and settled them their. They include the Francs, 
Burgundiones and Alemanii among other tribes. Like the Anglo-
Saxons they weren't united but they have similar 
characteristics. Their leader is a local chief Chlodwig and at 
the start of the scenario they occupy central Europe.
The Vandals. The Vandals were one of the tribes to invade the Roman 
Empire, but unlike most others the Vandals didn't settle 
themselves. They just kept going and finally formed a kingdom 
in northern Africa. Their leader is Genseric and under his 
reign the Vandals formed a mighty pirate kingdom and they 
managed to raid even Rome. They control most of Spain and one 
city in north Africa.
The Visigoths. The visgoths were a tribe who lived north of the Black 
Sea but they were forced to migrate when the Huns appeared in 
Europe. They got in a war with the Roman Empire and they have 
moved through their empire, sacked Rome and finally settled 
themselves in Aquetania. Some Visigoths still live near the Black Sea. Their leader is Theodosius I.
The Barbarians. The barbarians represent all other "players" in this 
scenario. 1. The Picts, Celts, Britons and Scots in Ireland and 
Scotland. 2. The Scandinavian tribes. 3. The Sueves in north 
west Spain. 4. Rebel Romans in Arelate in southern France. 5. 
The Slavs in Poland. 6. The Berbers in north Africa. 7. The 
Persian Empire in the Middle East. If there could be 
another Civilization then it would be the Persians, but I wanted to focus on the war in Europe, so I choose the Anglo-Saxons as a separate tribe.

GOALS

The Huns get a marginal/decisive victory depending on their objectives. 

The West Romans should try to remain in control of at least Italy (Stalemate), but preferably also North Africa (Marginal Victory). If you can expand your territory that will be a decisive victory.

The Byzantines should try to remain in control of Greece (Stalemate) and preferably Turkey and Egypt (Marginal Victory). Any expansion will be a decisive victory.

The Francs should at least conquer France (marginal victory) but also Italy (decisive victory).

The Vandals should try to conquer the West Roman part of North Africa for a marginal victory, and also the entire Iberian penisula and Southern Italy (up to and including Rome). Ships would come in handy for these pirates of the mediteranian.

The Anglo-Saxons should try to conquer Brittain and Scotland for a Marginal Victory. Any further expansion at the cost of the Francs will get a decisive victory.

The Visigoths should try to conquer the entire Iberian penisula for a Marginal Victory. Further explansion in North Africa or Italy will be a decisive victory.

RESEARCH AND MONEY

All the tribes have a severe cash-flow problem, which will result in selling of improvements. For the barbaric tribes that's logical, they shouldn't build improvements, but plunder them. The Roman Empires have a lot of expenses in these times (wars, civil disorders, etc), and will be forced to sell of a lot of improvements. A lot of cities have useless improvements (like Aquaducts in cities that can't grow). This is to represent the excesive luxury in which most Roman senators (and aother important figures) live. There is also little research in the scenario. Of course, the barbarians didn't care much for it, and the Romans had better, and more important things to do.

UNITS

F   = Francs
W   = West Romans
By  = Byzantines
Vg  = Visigoths
Va  = Vandals
H   = Huns
A   = Anglo-Saxons
Ba  = Barbarians
All = All tribes (after research)
*   = Unconstructable
"barbarians" = not the real barbarians in the game, but the less 
developed tribes in Europe. The Romans called any non-Roman tribe barbarians.

Settlers		F Vg Va H
	
The settlers of the "savage tribes" in Europe

Engineers		W By

These are the Roman engineers, who were the best in the world at that time.

Legion		W By

	The mainstream of the Roman armies.

Roman Inf.		W By

The Roman Infantry had less armour and weapons, and was used mainly to protect the archers while the Legions fought at the frontline.

Scan. Warship	A Ba

These are the ships used by the north European tribes to raid Roman coastal cities.

Primitive Ship	Va Vg F H A Ba

These are the small ships used by most "barbarians". They are made obsolete when you get the Heavy warship. That's why the Romans can't build them.

Hun Warrior		Hu Ba

	These are the ground forcers of the Hun army.

Centurion		W By

The leader of 100 men. They usually are part of a small cavalry division.

Chariot		W By

	Carriages with soldiers on them towed by horses.

Knights		F Vg A

The heavy cavalry of some "barbarian" tribes. These aren't real medieval knights, but their predecessors.

Hun Horsemen	H

The mounted Hun warriors. The Huns were famous for their riding expertise.

B. Horsemen		Va Vg F As Ba

	Mounted "barbaric" warriors.

Elephant		W By

	The Elephants were the tanks of ancient times.

Pers. Horsemen	Ba

A barbarian only unit. These are the cavalry of the Persian army.

Balista		All

Heavy siege artillery used by the Romans to force a breakthrough.

Catapult		All

Another siege weapon. The catapult was used to throw rocks over city walls.

Archer		W By Va Vg A F 

	Archers used by most of the civilizations and tribes in Europe.

Flame Archer	All

Archers with flame arrows to burn down entire cities.

Hun Archer		H

The archers of the Huns were much more powerful then their European counterparts. The Huns used multilayer bows that allowed their arrows to fly twice as fast.

General*		W By Va Vg A F

	Special units who are formidable fighters.

Theodoric I*	Vg

	The ruler of the Visigoths. He died in a battle with the Huns.

Theodoric II*	Vg

	He will appear if Theodoric I dies.

Genseric*		Va

The leader of the Vandals. He was a master of plunder and conquest

Slave Soldiers	H

These are the soldiers of tribes conquered by the Huns. They were forced to fight for the Huns against their enemies. After Attila died they liberated themselves (like the Ostragoths for instance).

Roman Warship	W By

The warships of the Romans controlled the seas of the known world.

V. Warship		Va Vg

The warships of the Vandals and Visigoths. Especially the Vandals used these vessels as pirateships to dominate the Mediterranean Sea.

B. Warriors		F A Va Vg

	Warriors of the less developed tribes in Europe.

Coastal Raiders	Va A

	Soldiers who were specialised in raiding coastal cities.

Pikemen		Vg A Ba

	Sturdy defenders whose pikes were a menace for enemy cavalry	

Pers. Warrior	Ba

	Soldiers of the Persian Empire.

Pope Leo I*		W

	Pope of the Christian world. He convinced Attila not to attack          
      Rome.

Pope*			W

	The leader of the Christians.

Heavy Warship	All

	A powerful warship.

Assassin		All

Assassins weren't uncommon in ancient times, and they were quite	often used.

Diplomat		All

	A bit obvious this one.

Spy			All

	Still the same.

Merchant		All

	Traders moving from city to city.

Scout			H

	The Huns were known for their scouts on horseback.

Hun General*	H

The generals of the Huns are on horseback, unlike their European counterparts.

Edikon*		H

	A young soldier who became Attila's personal bodyguard.

Roman Emperor*	W By

	The emperor of the West Romans and Byzantines.

Bleda*		H

After Rugila died, Bleda became the leader of the Huns in the east.

Barbarian King*	F A Vg Va

	These represent the local rulers of the "barbarian tribes"

Attila*		H

After Rugila died Attila became the leader of the Huns in the west. Under his rule the Huns won battle after battle.

Justinian*		By

The greatest emperor of the Byzantines ever. After the West Roman Empire fell Justinian managed to reconquer a lot of lost territory. His successors unfortunately weren't able to keep all this land.

Rugila*		H

The leader of the Huns when they first appeared in Europe. Under his rule the Huns conquered the Ostragoths and won numerous battles over the Visigoths and Byzantines.

Horse Archer	H

The fearsome elite forces of the Huns. These mounted archers were a plague to their enemies.

Camels		Ba

A barbarian only unit. They are soldiers who are mounted on camels.

Pers. Defender	none

A special unit designed to protect the Persian Empire. The AI barbarians tend to send every soldier into battle and leave their cities defenceless. That's why I made these units immobile.

Frontier		none

These units keep the Huns from expanding to the east. They look exactly like terrain units so look closely.

Frontier2		none

	Another immobile terrain unit.

IMPROVEMENTS

Most of the improvements remain the same. The changes are listed here.

Forum                = Bank
Church               = Cathedral
Amphi Theatre        = Colosseum
Intensive Mining     = Factory
Water System         = Sewer System
Intensive Irrigation = Supermarket
Caravan Depot        = Superhighways
Shipyard             = Port Facility
(Luxury Goods)       = (Consumer Goods)

WONDERS

- Pyramids (same) in Memphis. A bit obvious this one.
- Colosseum (Hanging Gardens) in Roma. The biggest Roman amphi theatre.
- Saharan Trade Route (Colossus) in Carthago. This represents the Roman trade with the African kingdoms.
- Great Library (same). At the start of the scenario it is already    
   lost.
- Hadrians Wall (Great Wall) in Eburacum. This is the wall emperor Hadrianus build to protect Britain from the tribes in Scotland.
- Warrior Culture (Sun Tsu's War Academy) in Tyras. This represents the Huns fighting expertise.
- Justinian's Reconquest (King Richard's Crusade). This represents the Byzantine emperor Justinian's attempt to reclaim the former west Roman Empire after its fall.
- Edict of Milan (Mike's Chapel) in Mediolanum. Here Christianity became a legal religion in the Roman Empire.
- Forum Romanum (Shakespeare's Theatre) in Roma. This was a big marketplace in Rome. It was a centre of commerce, law, and religion.
- Hagia Sophia (Bach Cathedral) in Constantinople. This was a big church in Constantinople which was build during the rule of emperor Constantine the Great.
- Greek School (Isaac Newton College) in Athenea. This represents the Greek influence on the Byzantine Empire.
- The Holy City (Adam smiths Trading Co) in Hierosolyma. This represents the attraction of Jerusalem to Christian pilgrims.
- Justinian's Code (Cure for Cancer). These are the rules for politics and law that emperor Justinian formed. These rules still form the foundation of many constitutions nowadays.

NOTES

* For unit strengths see the Defence Report.
* If you play the Huns don't deliberately let Rugila die so you can 
  get Attila and Bleda. CHEATING
* If you play one of the Roman civilizations don't declare war on  
  your Roman neighbours by bribing one of their cities. CHEATING.
* Don't bribe any of the Persian cities (the barbarian cities in the 
  Middle east). CHEATING
* Please ignore my bad English, a foreign language can be quite     
  difficult.
* Sorry I can't give credits to the all creators of the units,    
improvements, etc. I have gathered them for everywhere and I don't know who made all of them. Most units I've used are from the Ancient Units modpack by Harlan Thompson.
* For suggestions, soundfiles or other scenarios just e-mail me.
* Thanks to Blackclove for playtesting this scenario.
* Thanks to Harlan Thompson, who's Mongols scenario inspired me.   
  Don't worry, me next scenario will be more original.
